How to spot a grant scam
Real grants never charge you to apply, and no agency will call you out of the blue to say you’ve won one. Here’s how to tell the difference.
The warning signs
- You’re asked to pay first. A “processing fee”, “tax” or “insurance” before you get the money is the clearest sign of a scam.
- You were contacted out of nowhere. A call, text or social media message saying you qualify for a grant you never applied for.
- They want bank or gift card details. Real funders never ask for gift cards, wire transfers or crypto, and don’t need your bank login.
- A “grant finder” guarantees money. No one can guarantee you’ll win a competitive grant.
- The name sounds official but isn’t. Scammers use names like “Federal Grants Administration”, which doesn’t exist.
How real grants work
You find a program, check that you’re eligible, and apply by its deadline. Federal grants are listed on Grants.gov, and applying there is free. Most federal grants go to organizations, not to individuals for personal expenses.
Every listing on GrantCalendar links to the official source, so you can always confirm a grant directly with the funder.
Questions people ask
Do real grants charge an application fee?
No. Federal grants never charge a fee to apply or to receive money, and legitimate private programs don’t either. Applying through Grants.gov is free.
Will the government call me to say I won a grant?
No. Federal agencies don’t call, text or message people out of the blue to offer grants. You only receive a grant you applied for.
Where should I report a grant scam?
Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If it happened online, you can also file with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.